I’ve recycled one of my older illustrations on this one, since I’m kind of on vacation. The original story, which is very different, can be read here: Knossos
They stood in silence. They had lost the rest of the group in the darkness. They had been walking through the tunnels for a long time.
They could hear the loud brawl from somewhere down the halls, echoing between the walls. It was coming closer, from all sides at once.
We need to get out of here! Derkylos’ voice trembled.
There is no way out, Melegros answered, resigned. We’re lost. He was holding Alcmene’s hand.
The brawl came closer. A scream. One of the girls. Another. Then a boy.
Come on, we have to get out of here! Alcmene pulled Melegros up on his feet. The three of them ran down a staircase, passed a corner. The screams continued.
A light. Somewhere down the hallway they saw a little light in the tunnel.
Run! We can make it!
Melegros stopped. That’s not daylight.
They were eyes, burning red with hatred and lust for murder. A head of an ox, but bigger. An athletic humanoid body, like the one of a god.
Roooooaaaarrrrh!!! The brawl of the Minotaur made the tunnel tremble.
Derkylos turned to run. He fell. The Minotaur grabbed him, lifted him up. Melegros walked slowly backwards. It bit off Deroklys’ head, threw the body away. Melegros fell on his knees.
Alcmene could hear his screams as she ran down the tunnel. She found some stairs, going down to the right. Lots of them. The air was getting thicker. The Mintoaur’s screams sounded like laughter behind her. Evil. Monstrous.
Dead end. She turned around. The Minotaur had a strange, misty glow around him. His head almost touched the tall ceiling, his shoulders went from one wall to the other. It was grinning viciously.
The sacrifice had come to an end.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minotaur#Theseus_and_the_Minotaur
Fictionspawn 
Very different from the other story indeed, perhaps a prequel/sequel? Character names are fantastic as always.
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Thanks! I found the names in a list of ancient greek names. I had already made up some, which were rather strange, and chose the ones that were most similar. The idea in the other story is rather about the origins of the myths and the downfall of the Minoan civilization, and how the people interpreted natural disasters as acts of the gods. In this one, on the other hand, the Minotaur is very real. You can say the stories are about the same subject in different dimensions.
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Ahhh I see you, I interpreted the other story in the same way as the Minoans! Hah!
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Cool! I guess in some way, it was 🙂
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And then there’s this (you might have to scroll down a bit): https://comicvine.gamespot.com/the-avengers-17-four-against-the-minotaur/4000-7835/
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Hehe, Marvel deities are a phenomena of their own, aren’t they… Thanks for reminding me of this one 🙂
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First thing that popped into my head.
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This is what happens when you wander away from your tour group… nice one 🙂
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Hehe… one have to be careful.
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Nicely done. The Minoan tile fresco is excellent.
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Thanks Anony! I retouched the colours digitally, making them stronger before publishing again. I think maybe somewhere in between the two versions might have been better, but that’s what learning is all about, isn’t it 🙂
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a pretty effective piece of horror writing
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Thank you John! I planned to edit a bit more, but there’s a lot of things happening, so it stayed like this. Glad it turned out OK.
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the most brilliant part for me was when the light at the end of the tunnel proved to be the minotaur’s eyes! horrific and brilliant!!!
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I remember reading about the Minotaur when I was about 10 or 11. Nightmares for weeks! Your illustrations are always amazing!
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Thank you! I was on Crete with my mother and sister when I was about the same age. I was extremely amazed by the story and the palace of Knossos. The minoan civilization is one of the most amazing ones I’ve ever heard of.
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Lovely story
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😀
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